Mesothelioma is a cancerous condition that afflicts the lining of vital organs like the lungs and abdomen and can even cause the death of the patient. The rarest types of disease affect the membranes around the patient’s heart and the testes. Although the condition is quite deadly, there are some measures that can help boost the survival rates and increase the life expectancy of the patient. Knowing these facts can make a great difference in prolonging the life of a loved one suffering from mesothelioma. Here are some effective measures you can take for increasing the life expectancy of the patient.
Know the factors that impact the life expectancy
A patient’s life expectancy is affected by a host of factors, some of which you can control and others that you cannot. The patient’s age and the stage of the disease at the time of the diagnosis have an impact on the prognosis. Conversely, the choice of treatment is a factor that you can control when it comes to increasing life expectancy. Similarly, factors such as your lifestyle choices and overall health also give you better chances to survive and live longer.
Opt for the best treatment at an early stage
If you are lucky enough to have a diagnosis at an early stage, there is a good possibility of beating the disease. Combination treatment with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy can give effective benefits. However, you can expect them to be expensive. Thankfully, the law ensures compensation for people suffering from the disease due to exposure to asbestos at the workplace. You can consult expert mesothelioma lawyers to explore your legal options if you want to file for compensation yourself or for a family member. Having enough funds enables you to get the best possible treatment and live longer.
Explore emerging treatments and clinical trials
There is always hope in an emerging treatment for any life-threatening condition and mesothelioma is not an exception. Your best bet for improving your life expectancy may actually come from being a part of clinical trials that test such experimental treatments. For instance, immunotherapy and photodynamic therapy are some promising options for the disease. Researchers also constantly engaged in finding innovative treatments for mesothelioma and your oncologist can find clinical trials that are just right for you.
Invest in lifestyle changes
While treatment does its share for helping you longer, you cannot ignore the value of positive lifestyle chances for increasing your lifespan even with such a serious disease. Improving your nutrition with the right food choices helps build immunity and fight the cancer cells. Following an active lifestyle keeps you fit and cultivates positivity, which can go a long way in curbing the disease. You can go one step ahead with complementary therapies like meditation, yoga, acupuncture, and herbal medicine with your regular treatment protocol. These therapies are capable of reducing pain and stress and improving the quality of life.
These proactive measures can be helpful in dealing with the disease and living normally as long as possible. So you must not give up and keep going strong!
